Five Japanese Edo period woodblock prints depicting famous samurai from the series “Abridged Stories of our Country’s Swordsmanship” (Honcho kendo ryaku den) by Kuniyoshi (1797-1861) published by Kazusa-ya Iwazo circa 1845-1846. From left to right and top to bottom, the images depict Araki Matayemon Standing and Examining his Sword, Sasaki Ganryu Standing in Profile with a Clenched Fist, Miyamoto Musashi Dressed for Traveling on his way to see Bukoden, Minamoto no Ushiwaka Maru Knocking Down a Tengu During a Fencing Match, and Yoshioka Kanefusa Defending Himself From Attacking Policemen. Vertical oban size (14 1/4"V x 9 5/8"H). Very good color and overall condition. There is some soiling evident on a few images. The prints were removed from an album and are lightly album backed and slightly trimmed. Each image has a prominent horizontal centerfold as the album was constructed with each print folded in half. There is some wear at the edges (particularly at the edges of the centerfold) and some faint crinkling of the paper at the fold. One image has a small paper loss at the center top. These images are listed and described on pages 124-125 (S37) of B. W. Robinson’s "Kuniyoshi: The Warrior Prints," Cornell University Press, 1981. All five prints are also described and illustrated in www.kuniyoshiproject.com. From a Scottsdale, Arizona collection.